Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa, chief executive officer of Pool Corporation,was the keynote speaker at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center arena. Candidates for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees were led into the arena by the Golden Graduates, alumni who graduated 50 or more years earlier.

In his welcome Southeastern Interim President John L. Crain noted that the 1, 287 individuals being recognized at commencement included 430 men and 857 women who were receiving 17 different degrees; nine graduates who were receiving two or more degrees; and representatives from 23 states and 15 countries.

The university awarded its highest academic honor, the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, to 14 students with the highest cumulative grade point average in the university’s five colleges and Division of General Studies. In all but one of the colleges and divisions, multiple awards were presented to students with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

Medal recipients were:

▪ College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – psychology major Veronica Laura Ennis of Slidell, criminal justice major Barry Wayne Mince Jr. of Ponchatoula, English major Wesley James Williams of Covington, English major Lauren Anne Winkler of Slidell.

▪ College of Business – business administration major Michael Ryan Prince of Boca Raton, Fla., accounting major Lori Duke Craig of Denham Springs, management major Christopher T. Shaffett of Hammond.

▪ College of Education and Human Development – social work major Brock Russell Skelley of Baton Rouge, 3.976 gpa.

▪ College of Nursing and Health Sciences – nursing major Morgan Claire Blades of Hammond, communication sciences and disorders major Melissa Gay Perrin of Ponchatoula.

▪ Division of General Studies – general studies major H. Nikki Manoury Eames of Hammond, general studies major Peggy G. Leonard of Franklinton, general studies major Katie Marie Pellittieri of Ponchatoula.

▪ College of Science and Technology – biological sciences major Marc Allen Richardson of Hammond.

Perez advised graduates to look for career opportunities that they will enjoy and where they can maximize their learning.

“If you stop learning, you stop progressing,” said Perez, who heads one of the world’s largest distributors of swimming pool products.

He told the graduates that “despite media reports, the negative thinking and short term perspective that unfortunately surrounds us, I will tell you that there are many careers available and there is a shortage of talented and dedicated people in society today.”

Perez de la Mesa also recounted how he came to the United States from Cuba as a four-year-old with his parents, younger sister and brother. His parents, he said, each worked two jobs, gradually improving their living conditions. “Both of my parents instilled a strong work ethic in their children founded on an education,” he added. “The influence of parents, siblings and teachers in one’s life is immeasurable. Treasure what you have as you are all very fortunate to have it.”